Hebrew University comedy on Oscar shortlist

An Israeli comedy about the rivalry between two bible experts has been shortlisted for an Academy Award.

Footnote, which won the best screenplay award at last year's Cannes film festival, is set at Jerusalem's Hebrew University.

Directed by Joseph Cedar, it tells the story of the rivalry between a father and son who both work as Talmudic scholars.

The film is up for the best foreign language film award at the Oscars, which take place next month. The finalists for the nominations will be announced on Tuesday.

In 2007, Mr Cedar's Lebanon-set film Beaufort was shortlisted in the same category.

He said he was happy and excited to be on the shortlist again, but that a tense week awaited.

Last year Danish Jewish director Susanne Bier won the Best Foreign Film award for In a Better world, while the Tel Aviv-set film Strangers No More about the Bialik-Rogozin School triumphed in the documentary short category.